National Republican., 1887-10-14
The Latest Dodge of tho Virginia
Bourbons.

The people of Virginia would do well to
consider the situation OF the state os to it's
eedltcrs. The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
yesterday gave plain statement Of the acts
Of the two parties. The Republicans brought
about q settlement and the Democrats ac-
cepted 1t and pledged themselves to carry
II out. Fitzhugh Lee would not to-day be
governor OF Virginia II every Democratic
paper and every Democrat In the campaign
which resulted in Lees being declared gov
srDor, had not pledged the Democratic
party to abide by the Rlddeberger settle.
ment.
But the Democrats no sooner obtained
power than they violated the pledge. The
law known as "the coupon crusher" was
a direct attack upon the Riddleberger bill.
The Democrats needed more money. They
Increased the state expenses 100000 per
annum over the sum needed by Republi-
cans, and enough cash was not collected to
satisfy their greed. They determined to
force new arrangement with the states
creditors, and to once more agitate tb.
debt question. Hence "the coupon crusher"
law.
1t is impossible to determine with the ac.
ourecy required to establish a fact In a
court OF justice whether the foreign bond
holders were in conspiracy with the Vir-
giria Democrats to revive this question or
not. But there were suspicious crcum
stances marking the conferences held last
spripg between the bondholders' commit
tee and the committees appointed 10y the
Democratic legislature.
No one now believes that there ever wa,
shy intention even in calling The legislature
together, at a heavy expense to the tax
payers Of the state, that any agreement
should be arrived at with the foreign bond
holders. The fact that no Republican In
either branch Of the assembly was placed
on this committee is an evidence that no
settlement was desired.
The fsct is that SO soon as certain Vir-
Rinia corporation succeeded In securing the
right to increase its capital stock negotia-
tions ceased, the bondholders' committee
returned to England, and the legislature
adjourned. How much, II any, of the new
stock and bonds OF this company was placed
in London, who placed it, and what the
commissions were are questions that the
public has no means Of ascertainlng.
The farce Of calling the legislature to-
gether to confer with the creditors was
played; the corporation got what it wanted,
and the taxpayers Of Virginia foot the bills
In the meantime the state authorities defy
tie decisions Of the United States courts
and continue to enforce the 'coupon
crusher." The experience OF Virginia ID
defying the United States authorities ought
to prevent any repetition OF that kind OF
work, yet the Democratic coupon crusheri
seem to invite 1t. Some of them are play
ing the role Of martyrs to attract public
sympathy and strengthen the Democratic
cause in the campaign.
How these martyrs suffer we will let q
Democrat tell. The correspondent OF the
Alexandria Gazette Of Oct. II says:
"Maryrdom, indeed" said Richmond
Democrat TO the Gazette 5 correspondent to-day,
referring to the sO.called incarceration of At
torney General Ayers and Maj John Scott a
the jail at Richmond for disobedence to tn.
dtcIees and orders of the United States eourti
in che coupon cases "Why, the confinement
is merely nominal. Its but II name. aud wa
ANTICIPATED and desired by both gentlem 4n
The state of Virginia, or rather her taxpayers
you know, pay all the board bills, lawyers
fees, and other expenses connected with the
'sheddingo Of the precious blood OF these glorious
mnrtyrs' As to the actual discomfort of thi.
so-called self.eleoted confinement of theirs
there is nothing in II. Mr.. Ayers was out al
day Monday preparing the papers in his case
Wines and dinners are sent from the ExchAngt
Hotel, bouquets, refreshing lunches, Luscious
fruits, &c, are thrust upon the martyrs Will,
an unthinking, uniformed public are fool
isbly commiserating the unhappy lot of Ia,
poor prisoners who are suffering for thei
states sake. The truth Is" said he, "lt is p DO
old Virginia who IL suffering and not the attor
noys Of this latter-day reconstructed Riddle
berger debt.bill Denf6crany at all. The attor
neys are dancing to the ldsciyious stratus o
delightful music while the taxpayers are pay
ing the expenses of the Gddllng through which
1t comes"
That Is a true record from an unexpected
source, and the whole farce Ia being enacted
for the effect 1t will have on the voters 10
November.
The people of Virginia showed they had
no trust in the promises OF the Roanoke
platform. They showed their disgust with
Democratic methods and administration,
and the leaders saw it. They are trying ia
draw Off the attention OF the people and ex.
cite their sympathies. The cry OF "nigger,"
''nigger," and even the bugaboo OF "Ma.
honen failed to enthuse the people, and
pow the martyr dodge, to excite sympathy